Fixing Loose Feed Handles on a Craftsman Floor Drill Press

Loose pull handles on an older floor drill press are usually a thread-repair problem rather than a reason to replace the whole machine. JB Weld may work as a quick fix in some situations, but the better choice depends on whether the handles need to remain removable, how damaged the hub threads are, and how much future serviceability matters.

Why the Handles Get Loose

On many older drill presses, the feed handles thread into a central hub that rotates the quill feed mechanism. Over time, repeated tightening, vibration, side loading, or cross-threading can wear out the internal threads in the hub.

If the handle threads are still mostly intact but the hub no longer grips them securely, the failure is likely in the hub rather than the handles. That distinction matters because repairing the hub threads usually gives a cleaner and more serviceable result than simply gluing the handles in place.

Why JB Weld Is Tempting

JB Weld and similar metal-filled epoxies are attractive because they are inexpensive, widely available, and easy to apply without machining tools. For a lightly used hobby drill press, bonding the handles into the hub may appear to solve the immediate looseness.

The main advantage is convenience, not mechanical correctness. It can reduce wobble and keep the handles from pulling out, but it does not truly restore the original threaded connection.

Downsides of Permanent Bonding

The biggest drawback is serviceability. Drill press handles sometimes need to be removed when working around awkward materials, storing the machine, replacing parts, or disassembling the feed hub.

Permanent bonding also makes future repair more difficult. If the epoxy fails later, the holes may be contaminated with hardened material, making thread repair or insert installation more annoying than it would have been originally.

JB Weld may be acceptable as a practical temporary or low-cost repair, but it should be understood as a compromise. It can hold in some cases, yet it removes the flexibility of a proper threaded repair.

Better Repair Options

The most durable repair is usually to restore the threads or replace the damaged part. Depending on the drill press model, a replacement feed hub may be available from used parts sellers or from compatible machinery parts suppliers.

Repair Method	Best Use Case	Main Concern
Thread insert	Original handles are still usable	Requires correct drill, tap, and insert size
Retap to larger size	Original hub has enough material	May require new or modified handles
Replacement hub	Part is available and affordable	Compatibility must be checked carefully
Epoxy bonding	Low-cost, light-duty repair	Handles may no longer be removable

When a Simple Fix May Be Enough

For occasional hobby use, a bonded repair may be enough if the drill press is otherwise safe, the handles are positioned correctly, and the owner accepts that later removal may be difficult. This is more reasonable when the machine is not used commercially and the feed handles do not experience heavy abuse.

However, this should not be treated as a universal recommendation. A personal repair that holds for years on one machine may fail quickly on another because of different thread damage, handle fit, epoxy preparation, and usage patterns.

Practical Decision Guide

Before using epoxy, inspect both the male threads on the handles and the female threads in the hub. If the handle threads are clean and the hub is stripped, a thread insert or retapping the hub is usually the more proper fix.

Use a thread insert if you want to keep the original handle size.
Retap larger if the hub has enough metal and replacement handles are acceptable.
Replace the hub if a compatible part is easy to find.
Use epoxy only if low cost and simplicity matter more than removability.

The main question is not whether JB Weld can hold, but whether you want the handles to remain removable later. If future disassembly matters, avoid bonding them permanently. If the drill press is a light-duty shop tool and the repair is understood as a compromise, epoxy can be considered with realistic expectations.